Utanapishtim has paid dearly for the sin of creating the vampire race—imprisoned in a living death for centuries, driven to near madness. With a single white-hot glance, he immolates his descendants…and the vampire Armageddon begins.

Beautiful and deadly Brigit Poe, not wholly vampire but fiercely loyal to that shared bloodline, is called into action. She abhors yet cannot deny her destiny: to vanquish the once-great king of the immortals and save the vampire race.

Two warriors, equally matched in power and determination, are soon locked in an unwinnable battle, only to discover a passion so shocking it threatens every truth they’ve ever known—even as they must face one final battle that seems fated to end in death and heartbreak for them both.

Review:

Known as the mongrel twins, Brigit and her brother James were unique. Part vampire and part human, Brigit considered herself the dark twin. James healed with his powers, while she destroyed. That talent comes in handy when the First was revived by James, only to go on an insane rampage killing the vampire race he had created. Utana’s soul had been bound to his body’s ashes for millenia as punishment for sharing his gift of immortality. Now that he has risen, he is convinced that his only means of redemption is to negate that mistake. After seeing many of her friends and family murdered by this madman, Brigit is determined to kill him at any cost.

This is supposedly the finale of this groundbreaking, magnificent series. I pray to all that is holy that this is not true. It’s like the breaking up of the Beatles, a sin and an abomination. I have followed this series since it’s inception almost twenty years ago, and it has only gained in momentum. Of course, in the beginning Utana is a ravening madman and not very likable, but Maggie Shayne is a master at making the most unsympathetic of beings into earth shattering heroes. She outdid herself with this book. I could tell withing the first few pages I was going to need the Kleenex, and lots of them. Sheesh! By the end of this book a was a blubbering mess. Brigit has image issues with the whole good twin/ bad twin thing, but my girl had cojones in spades. When her family is pressing her to make a choice between them and Utana, she gives one of the best “eff you” speeches ever. I actually did the Jersey Shore fist pump.

Of course many of my old friends from the Twilight and Wings in the Night series are here, but especially Rhiannon. She is one of my favorite heroines of all times ( although I think Brigit might have taken just a small lead). There were some funny/happy moments, like his reaction to planes, learning to drive and eating in a restaurant, so I didn‘t weep through the WHOLE story. The DPI (department of paranormal investigations branch of the CIA) is heavily involved and truly out did it’s past evilness. I will miss these wonderful characters and their magnificent stories, but hold out hope for reappearances. Besides what happens to Roxy?